Memo hints at NJ gov's death; union apologizes

[Paslode]

Absolutely DASTARDLY!! I bet Governor Christie and his family are fearing for their safety, the are probably afraid to answer the phone or send the kids to school.....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...040901505.html

Memo hints at NJ gov's death; union apologizes

By GEOFF MULVIHILL and ANGELA DELLI SANTI
The Associated Press
Friday, April 9, 2010; 4:28 PM

TRENTON, N.J. -- A teacher union's memo hinting that New Jersey's governor should die has escalated a war of words in a state already squabbling about public schools and how much they cost.

The memo from the Bergen County Education Association to its locals reads in part: "Dear Lord this year you have taken away my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer, Michael Jackson, and my favorite salesman, Billy Mays. I just wanted to let you know that Chris Christie is my favorite governor."

Association president Joe Coppola said the "prayer" was a joke and was never meant to be made public. Friday, he apologized, saying he'd made an error in judgment.

The New Jersey Education Association was also contrite. It issued an apology Friday, saying the attack wasn't funny and that it takes away from the more serious discussion the group would like to have with the governor. NJEA President Barbara Keshishian said she would try to apologize personally to Christie.

At an appearance in New Brunswick on Friday, Christie didn't see any humor in the memo - and used it as another chance to blast the teachers unions.

"They said they didn't intend it to be public," said Christie, a Republican. "So, private prayer for my death would have been OK?"

One Republican lawmaker even called for the state attorney general to investigate.

The memo - even if it was a joke - escalates an ongoing war of words.

During the Republican Christie's run for governor last year, he didn't mind offending the teachers union.

He refused to meet with the NJEA as it interviewed candidates to consider whom to endorse. And he attacked the union on the campaign trail. In July, he said: "Frequently, the leadership of the NJEA has been a strong advocate for the status quo, whether the status quo is succeeding or failing."

The union endorsed incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine in the election - and paid for fliers, staffed phone banks and knocked on doors on his behalf.

This year, the state education association has aired television commercials critical of the governor.

The friction intensified last month when Christie proposed a state budget that called for state and federal aid to school districts to be cut about 11 percent. Many districts are getting cuts deeper than that - and most say they expect to lay off staff.

Christie, though, says that he'll give extra aid to any district where educators agree to freeze their salaries for the year and start paying a portion of their health insurance costs. Any layoffs, he says, will be the fault of the unions - not him.

Steve Baker, an NJEA spokesman, said the group hopes the memo dustup will create an opportunity for the group to meet with Christie to talk about the future of the state's schools.

"Frankly, we have been talking at each other and we haven't been talking with each other," he said.

---

Mulvihill reported from Philadelphia.

What would be the response if the Small Business Association issued a memo to it's members: Dear Lord this year you have taken away my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer, Michael Jackson, and my favorite salesman, Billy Mays. I just wanted to let you know that Obama is my favorite President.

[ZonieDiver]

Originally Posted by Paslode

Absolutely DASTARDLY!! I bet Governor Christie and his family are fearing for their safety, the are probably afraid to answer the phone or send the kids to school.....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...040901505.html




What would be the response if the Small Business Association issued a memo to it's members: Dear Lord this year you have taken away my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer, Michael Jackson, and my favorite salesman, Billy Mays. I just wanted to let you know that Obama is my favorite President.

Though I am a teacher - even if not a member of any union or association - I find that funny! If the governor can't... screw him. Perhaps he needs another job. Governors, leaders of any sort, need "iron underwear"! That was pretty mild...imho.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

Though I am a teacher - even if not a member of any union or association - I find that funny! If the governor can't... screw him. Perhaps he needs another job. Governors, leaders of any sort, need "iron underwear"! That was pretty mild...imho.

I agree. But higher up the food chain it doesn't work that way, maligned wishes of strokes, heart attacks on certain parties is likely to get you a visit from the MiB to check you out as a possible threat. And secondly this is the stuff SPLC and ADL are warning us about if it comes from 'The Other side'.

[rubberneck]

ZonieDiver, to clarify I didn't mean to imply that all teachers unions are the same. I have dealt with unions my entire adult life and have found that the NJEA is much closer to the longshoreman than the UAW.

One of the reasons why the joke is getting such coverage in these parts is because there have been threats made against out Governor by people in the union. So when one of the heads of the union jokes about the Governor dying isn't as funny as it might seem in a different context.

[Paslode]

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

These unions sound dangerous, they really have threatened the Governor?

I would consider it a innuendo.

We'll see what pleasantries Gov. Crist receives over this:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...075,full.story

[Saturation]

This swings both ways- I can remember getting this same email several months ago but it was sent privately (not an organization) and was aimed at a Democrat as the last line.
Can't remember which one though....

Either way it's the same old, same old to me.

[Saturation]

Originally Posted by Paslode

We'll see what pleasantries Gov. Crist receives over this:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...075,full.story

From what I'm hearing here in Florida, Crist is going to veto this and may be 'pushed ' out of the Republican party. He would have the option to run as an Independent- I believe he has 2 months before he'll have to make that choice.

Apparently the money and support are all swinging in Rubio's favor.

[rubberneck]

The teachers union here in NJ is filled with some of the biggest dirtbags you'll ever find. They really are like the mob in some respect and for the past 20 years they have gotten every single thing they have asked for from the state including an annual COLA adjustment on their healthcare benefits from the day they retire to the day they qualify for medicare.

Because of state budget cuts my school district just had to lay off 16 good teachers because the union would not, under any circumstance agree too forgo their annual 4% raise for this year. The district went to the union three times and were dismissed out of hand three times. Because they refused to see reality of the situation 16 families lost, on average, $130,000 a year in salary and benefits. I'd have a hard time sleeping at night if I knew my 4% raise cost a family an income and benefits in this economy.

[ZonieDiver]

Don't tell me, Rubberneck! I was a "Rep" in our local teacher's union until two years ago. I had the temerity to suggest that because 60% of our members had 3 or less years of seniority in the district, that, perhaps, seniority was NOT the "do or die" card that the membership would want played in a "reduction in force"!

Said RIF is here. The only saving grace I can see is that for two years, I saved the $600. in union (ooops, excuse me... professional association) dues.